NaturalMotion Partners with Rockstar

CG animation technology developer NaturalMotion has announced that it is integrating its revolutionary euphoria engine into upcoming next-generation titles for Rockstar Games, the publisher behind the hugely successful Grand Theft Auto video games. The two companies have been working together for several months.

Based on NaturalMotion’s Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technology, euphoria uses the processing power of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles to simulate the human body and motor nervous system, creating fully interactive game characters that act differently every time. The system is designed to eliminate canned animation in favor of unique gameplay moments.

‘euphoria is about giving people an interactive experience they have never seen before,’ says NaturalMotion CEO Torsten Reil. ‘We now have the processing power to simulate humans, and the possibilities for games are endless. In Rockstar, we have found a partner that shares this vision, and is renowned for creating some of the most ground-breaking and immersive games in the industry.’

NaturalMotion will announce specific euphoria-enhanced Rockstar titles at a later date. The company has also integrated endorphin into LucasArts’ eagerly awaited Indiana Jones video game, and is working with other major game companies to bring more dynamic in-game animation to their products.